Customs Seizes Expired Flour, Hard Drugs, Other Contrabands Worth N1.99bn at Seme Border
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intensified its anti-smuggling campaign with the interception of contraband items valued at over ₦1.99 billion, including expired flour, narcotics, foreign rice, and second-hand clothing.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Wale Adenuga, made this known during his maiden media briefing held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) Complex, Seme Border.
Adenuga said the seizures were achieved through coordinated intelligence and enforcement operations in line with the zero-tolerance directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
“Smuggling is an economic sabotage that robs the nation of vital revenue and endangers public welfare. Our position is clear — any resource diverted into smuggling is a colossal waste; it should be channelled into legitimate trade that creates jobs and supports the economy,”
Comptroller Adenuga stated.
According to him, one of the most significant interceptions involved five trucks loaded with 10,000 bags of expired flour imported from Egypt, valued at ₦1.21 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV). He said the operation was jointly carried out with officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“The health risks associated with consuming such expired products could have led to severe infections, food poisoning, and long-term health complications. Beyond public health, such unwholesome goods undermine local industries and erode consumer trust,” he added.
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Other items seized during the period include 1,104 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 120 packs of Tramadol 120mg, 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 150 bales of second-hand clothing, 169 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, and five used vehicles.
Two suspects were arrested in connection with the drug-related seizures, while the exhibits and suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Command, for further investigation and prosecution.
The CAC attributed the Command’s success to credible intelligence and strong collaboration with other security agencies operating along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, describing inter-agency synergy as critical to sustaining Nigeria’s border security architecture.
Highlighting the Command’s revenue performance, Adenuga disclosed that the Seme Command generated ₦1.5 billion in September 2025, compared to ₦531.4 million recorded in August, representing a remarkable 182% increase.
In addition, he revealed that the Command facilitated the export of 53,989.46 metric tonnes of goods, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of ₦7.97 billion, in line with the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the economy through non-oil exports.
Reiterating his commitment to sustaining the momentum, Comptroller Adenuga vowed that the Command would continue to deal decisively with smugglers and economic saboteurs threatening national security and public safety.
“We are determined to maintain the integrity of our borders and ensure that legitimate trade thrives. Our message to smugglers is simple — the game is over,” he warned.
By PRNigeria
